Win a copy of Cross Shadow by Andrew Huff

No compensation was received for this post. I am sharing this giveaway, not hosting it.

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Get Your Salsabration on with CHI-CHI’s

No compensation was received for this post. Content and a complimentary prize pack was provided by Chi-Chi's.

This week, Kent State is playing Western Michigan and Akron is playing Bowling Green, and there’s a special treat for anyone attending the game! CHI-CHI’S, makers of Mexican food favorites, including sauces, tortillas, salsas and dips, will be at the game throwing a “Salsabration”!

What is a “Salsabration”?

During the "Salsabration", fans will have the chance to win free merchandise, dance in a virtual conga line, and snack on an endless supply of CHI-CHI’S zesty salsas and chips.

Of course, you can also enjoy the fiesta experience at home with your family. In a world where everyone is glued to their phones, CHI-CHI’S wants to help people connect with each other—and with the moment—over tasty chips, crowd-pleasing salsa and fun times. At our house, we are fans of Mexican food. Whether it is a snack of chips and salsa in the evening, or a quick dinner of quesadillas, chips and tortillas are a staple at our house and part of nearly every shopping list. Chi-Chi's can help bring the fiesta to the table by adding a zesty kick to your favorite meals.

CHI-CHI’S products are made from quality ingredients, including real tomatoes, vegetables, and flavorful seasonings. For more information about CHI-CHI’S, please visit www.chichis.com, become a fan on Facebook or follow us on Pinterest.

Giveaway
For those who are not able to attend one of the games, no worries because I’ve got a special surprise—you too can host your own “Salsabration”! CHI-CHI’S is offering one A Busy Mom of Two reader the chance to win a giveaway prize, including chips, salsa and tortillas to make your gatherings and celebrations more enjoyable and irresistibly flavorful.
Prize Pack:

· (1) Mild Thick & Chunky Salsa ($3.29)

· (1) Medium Thick & Chunky Salsa ($3.29)

· (1) Hot Thick & Chunky Salsa ($3.29)

· (1) Authentic Original Tortilla Chips ($2.99)

· (1) Rounds Original Tortilla Chips ($2.99)

· (1) Strips Original Tortilla Chips ($2.99)

· (1) Fajita Style Flour Tortillas ($2.49)

· (1) Burrito Style Flour Tortillas ($2.49)
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Giveaway will remain open through November 12th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. The content of this post and the prize pack were provided by Chi-Chi's. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

Red Robin's Burger for Better Schools Program #Giveaway

No compensation was received for this post. The Red Robin information and gift cards (one for my family, one for the giveaway) have been provided by Red Robin. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

When I first graduated from college, I took a job with a company that had a training program that included rotations at two different production locations. It was an awesome experience and gave me the opportunity to live in two different cities and meet a lot of amazing people (including my husband). While on my second rotation, I was living in South Jersey and working in Philadelphia. It was a really fun rotation. I had a roommate that was there for a co-op assignment at the same plant and we had a blast exploring our new community. In addition to meeting new people, it also gave me a chance to catch up with some of my friends from college that had moved to the area years ahead of me. One weekend, I went and spent a couple of days with a sorority sister who lived about an hour away from my apartment. While visiting with her, we went to dinner at a restaurant that was new to me at the time - Red Robin. I remember they had a great hamburger selection and that the food was very good.

It has been several years (several, like 18 years) since I had last been to a Red Robin. For a long time, I didn't live near one and then when I moved 'close' to one, it was still a good half hour away from me and although we shopped in the area, the crowds generally kept us from stopping to eat, instead opting to head home to eat. They would come to mind when we had cravings for a good burger, but we hadn't been.

When Red Robin reached out about their new way to support local schools with their Burgers for Better Schools program, we decided we should make the journey - it helped that I had a work event near the Red Robin and the family came down and met me there for dinner.

Burgers for Better Schools is an extension of Red Robin’s loyalty rewards program, which gives members the opportunity to support local K-12 schools simply by dining at participating Red Robin restaurants and using their Red Robin Royalty member account. When a Red Robin Royalty member’s account is presented at the time of purchase, Red Robin will donate one percent of the total bill (excluding taxes, gratuities and gift card sales) to their school of choice.

Fortunately, since I was close by, I was able to time my arrival just enough in advance of the family, that I was able to wait the wait out by myself and we were seated within minutes of my family arriving. The kids each got kid's menus, which came with the tiniest crayons, they were sort of cute.

They also have tablets at the table, that allow you call the waitress, explore the menu, and play trivia. We were a little bummed that trivia came with a cost, especially since with it being on the tablet, it would be real easy for a kid to start playing without realizing. We asked why they charged for the trivia, when so many other places use the trivia as an additional draw to get crowds to come in and linger longer. The waitress wasn't sure, but agreed that it might be nice for it to be complimentary like it is elsewhere.

Then came time to explore our menus. I was very pleased by the selection and quickly narrowed it down to my top three or four options (I'm not the best decision maker when it comes to what do you want to eat...I want it all). As he explored the regular menu, son's eyes were bigger than his stomach, but fortunately, when we asked they have a plan for that...he was able to get a smaller version of his preferred burger from the adult menu. He went with the Burnin' Love.

He opted to try the cole slaw for his endless side. I have to tell you that we all thought it was really good.

My husband went with a different spicy burger - the Chili Chili Cheeseburger, with a side of fries. He was disappointed that it was not spicy and had to order some ghost pepper sauce to spice it up to what he wanted.

I was torn between the Royal Red Robin, which comes with an over easy egg on it and the Guacamole Burger. I went with the Guacamole Burger and the Garlic Herbed fries for my side. There was an extra charge for the Garlic Herbed Fries, but they are still bottomless.

My daughter chose the Little Red's Burger from the kids menu for her meal. She upgraded her drink to a Root Beer float. It was a small drink, but it was bottomless, which meant that there was enough to meet her expectations.

When you were ready for more sides, all you had to do was ask and they would bring out another basket.

Everyone was very pleased with their meal. We thought about dessert, but the food was so tasty that we all ate our meals and didn't have room for dessert. When we were ready, we were able to use the tablet on our table to pay our bill, including tip and print our receipt.

My husband liked this, he has often talked about how he would love to be able to pay at the table, so that the credit card was never out of of his control.

In addition to enjoying a great meal, we were able to help our local school out to. We had registered before going and the school we chose will get one percent of what we spent.

We are already planning our next visit.

Information about Red Robin’s Burger for Better Schools Program:

· Burgers for Better Schools is an extension of Red Robin’s loyalty rewards program. Red Robin Royalty provides members with added perks when they dine at Red Robin restaurants throughout the year, such as granting every 10th item purchased as free, a free birthday burger, exclusive surprises and more

· Burgers for Better Schools gives Red Robin Royalty members an opportunity to support local K-12 schools simply by dining at participating Red Robin restaurants and using their Red Robin Royalty member account. When a Red Robin Royalty member’s account is presented at the time of purchase, Red Robin will donate one percent of the total bill to their school of choice (excluding taxes, gratuities and gift card sales)

· Participating in Burgers for Better Schools is as easy as becoming a member of Red Robin Royalty. Red Robin Royalty members can sign up for Burgers for Better Schools on their account dashboard on Red Robin’s website or by visiting http://www.redrobin.com/betterschools. If you are not already a Red Robin Royalty member, sign up for free and select your child’s school BEFORE your visit!

· Through the Burgers for Better Schools dashboard, Red Robin Royalty members can select their school of choice to receive support, and change their school selection at any time throughout the year

· Members who have opted into Burgers for Better Schools can follow their progress in supporting a K-12 school of their choice on their Red Robin Royalty account dashboard. Details include individual contributions, how many others are supporting that school, and total donations raised by all supporters

· At any time, Red Robin Royalty members can donate an additional sum to the school of their choice by using the credit card option featured on the Burgers for Better Schools homepage

· Red Robin also makes it easy to help spread the word about the Burgers for Better Schools program at school, online and socially with a variety flyers, website banners and social media-friendly content in the online digital tool kit



Information about Red Robin:

· Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is the Gourmet Burger Authority, a place where families and adults alike can enjoy a great dining experience

· The first Red Robin restaurant opened in Seattle, Wash., in 1969, and now there are more than 500 Red Robin restaurants across the United States and Canada

· Red Robin is famous for serving more than two dozen craveable, high-quality burgers with Bottomless Steak Fries® in a fun environment welcoming to guests of all ages. In addition to its many burger offerings, Red Robin serves a wide variety of salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts and signature Mad Mixology® Beverages

· Red Robin is proud to offer fresh, high quality ingredients and every meal is made-to-order. Red Robin’s commitment to food quality includes Gourmet Burgers made with fresh, never frozen, all-natural, domestic, USDA-inspected beef; hormone free poultry and locally sourced produce that is hand-selected by its suppliers and freshly prepared in-house

· To sign up for the Red Robin Royalty program and become eligible to support your local school through Burgers for Better Schools, visit http://royalty.redrobin.com

You can find and connect with Red Robin
* Red Robin website

* Red Robin Burgers for Better Schools

* Red Robin on Facebook

* Red Robin on Twitter

* Red Robin on Instagram

Giveaway

Thanks to Red Robin, I have the opportunity to give one A Busy Mom of Two Reader a $75 gift card to check out Red Robin.

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Giveaway will remain open through October 9th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. The Red Robin information and gift cards (one for my family, one for the giveaway) have been provided by Red Robin. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

Minions! - Giveaway #MinionsandGenMills

No compensation was received for this post. A gift pack, information about the partnership, and the giveaway package have been provided by General Mills. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.
At my house, we have been anxiously awaiting the release of Minions. So much so, that we already have the movie time scheduled on our calendar. In fact, yesterday, while at work, I received a text from my husband with information on what times we could see the movie, pretty much as soon as the schedule for the weekend box office was up.

We have been fans of the Minions since we first met them in the Despicable Me. Last year, I made these cute Minion Valentine's Day 'cards' for my daughter to take to school:

You can check out this exclusive Minions movie trailer from General Mills for a special sneak peak of one the summer’s biggest premieres:

Just in time for their new movie to take the summer box office, General Mills has teamed up with the Minions to offer exclusive Minions Buddies in every specially marked box of General Mills cereals!

General Mills is once again connecting fans with what they love. Hidden inside each box, you will find one of six select Minions Buddies about to hit the big screen.

Minions and cereal fans alike can collect all six Buddies in each participating brand of General Mills cereals, including Honey Nut Cheerios, Banana Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Reese’s Puffs, Trix and Golden Grahams. The specially marked boxes of Big G cereals hit store shelves this month, for a limited time only. General Mills has additionally released specially marked packing of participating Betty Crocker fruit flavored snacks, including Fruit Roll-Ups, Fruit by the Foot and Gushers.

Giveaway!
One A Busy Mom of Two reader will win a Minion Prize Pack courtesy of General Mills. Prize pack includes a box of a participating General Mills cereal, a box of a participating Betty Crocker fruit flavored snack, an exclusive Minions Buddy and a $25 Fandango gift card

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Giveaway will remain open through July 19th and is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will be contacted by e-mail and will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. A gift pack, information about the partnership, and the giveaway package have been provided by General Mills. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family. The recipe is from my personal collection.

Star Wars Vintage Posters - Big G cereals

No compensation was received for this post. A gift pack, information about the partnership, and the giveaway package have been provided by General Mills. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.
My son is a bag fan of Star Wars, probably because my husband is a fan and has shared those movies with my son. With the upcoming launch of the new movie later this year, my daughter is looking forward to watching all of the movies with my husband and son, as they 'count down' to the new movie.

At our house, cereal is something that we enjoy on a regular basis. Not only is it our go to for breakfast most mornings, but we also have been known to enjoy a bowl of cereal for dinner and even as a snack. But, beyond that, I have several meals and snacks that I prepare using cereal as an ingredient.

So, when General Mills reached out to share about how they have teamed up with Star Wars to offer vintage movie posters in specially marked boxes of Big G cereals, I was excited to have the opportunity to participate in the promotion. We received a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Reese's Puffs. The next morning, shortly after arriving at work, I received a text from my son asking if they could open the new boxes of cereal. Of course, I told him he could and asked that he leave it on the counter, rather than putting it away. We lucked out and got two different posters - I was disappointed that they were from the 'newer' movies and not the original trilogy...maybe in the next box!

Cereal Crusted Chicken
canola oil for frying
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups cereal
1 cup flour
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c milk
salt and pepper, to taste

Slice chicken breasts into long slices, like chicken fingers. Crush the cereal (or put through the food processor) and place in a baggie or on a plate. Combine egg and milk. Place flour in a baggie or on a plate. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.

Preheat oil in skillet over medium high heat. Dredge each piece of chicken, first in the flour, then the egg mixture and then coat with cereal. Fry the chicken for about 4 minutes per side, being sure to cook through.

We enjoyed this last week served with a mustard sauce and a side of oven baked potato wedges. The chicken has a nice caramelized, crunchy delivery - it is a kid favorite. Kix has been a favorite cereal for this recipe in the past, but I think that next time I will try it with Cinnamon Toast Crunch...I think the cinnamon would give it a nice flavor.

General Mills and Star Wars are teaming up to offer exclusive vintage movie posters in every specially marked box of General Mills cereals!

General Mills is once again connecting fans with what they love. Hidden inside each box, you will find one of six timeless movie posters featuring your favorite Star Wars films.

Star Wars and cereal fans alike can collect all six classic posters in each participating brand of General Mills cereals, including Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Honey Nut Cheerios, Trix, Cookie Crisp and Reese’s Puffs. The specially marked boxes of Big G cereals hit store shelves this month, for a limited time only.

Check out the #CerealWars Tumblr page that launched this week for more fan fun surrounding the General Mills and Star Wars partnership.

Giveaway!

Courtesy of General Mills, one A Busy Mom of Two Reader will win 2 boxes of participating General Mills cereals and an exclusive Star Wars vintage movie poster. It is open to US only.

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Giveaway will remain open through May 10th and is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will be contacted by e-mail and will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.


No compensation was received for this post. A gift pack, information about the partnership, and the giveaway package have been provided by General Mills. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family. The recipe is from my personal collection.

Really Little Green Pouch - review/giveaway

No compensation was received for this post. A complimentary sample was provided for the purposes of this review. All images courtesy of Little Green Pouch.

A while back, I shared with you about my experience with a new product, Little Green Pouch. One of the concerns that I had with those pouches was that they were a little bit bigger than felt right for the kids and I found myself filling them part-way. So, when I found out that they had a new product, appropriately named Really Little Green Pouch, I was excited to try them out. The Really Little Green Pouch is a convenient 3.4 oz size, compared to 7 oz for the original.

The smaller pouch offers all of the same features as it's larger version. It is dishwasher and freezer safe. The pouch is marked with a line to show 2 oz fill, as well as the maximum fill at 3.4 oz. The pouch is reusable and has a spot on back for labeling the contents/owner of the pouch.

They are easy to fill with a interlocking zipper bag closure (like on your sandwich bags). They are sold as a 6-pack and can be bought directly from Little Green Pouch or find them on Amazon.

As with the larger pouches, we filled these with an assortment of things. I liked that not only could I choose what to put in them, but also that I had more control over the ingredients and texture (some of the pouch items that I have bought and tried were too smooth, I like a little texture to my nourishment). We used them for smoothies, which we are a big fan of at my house. It is not only a great way to use up the assorted fruit in the house, but you can even sneak in some veggies for more nutrition. I would also use it as a way to pack homemade applesauce (we have been enjoying cranberry apple sauce over the holidays - yum!) and treats like pudding. You can find a great collection of ideas/recipes on Little Green Pouch website.

They are great for packing in lunches and also for packing in the bag on my bike when we head out for family bike rides. Since they are freezable, we could even use them as a small ice pack and ensure the contents were still cold at lunch time.

What would you put in your Really Little Green Pouch?

Giveaway!
Courtesy of Little Green Pouch, I am able to giveaway to one A Busy Mom of Two a 6-pack of Really Little Green Pouch - 3.4 oz. Reusable Pouches.

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Giveaway will remain open through January 12th and is open to residents of the USA. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.


No compensation was received for this post. A complimentary sample was provided for the purposes of this review. All images courtesy of Little Green Pouch.

Cook'n Recipe Organizer - review and giveaway

I received a complimentary copy as a participant in the Tryazon Cook'n Recipe Exchange Party back in October. I had previously had an older version. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

I love to cook and to bake. I love to find and try new recipes. One of my biggest challenges was always organization. I have a recipe box that is partially populated with cards. I have a recipe accordion file that is full of some recipes that I got from my family at one of my wedding showers, plus some others that I have added. I have two write your own cookbooks - one that maxed out on space (you could add refills and I did until the rings could hold no more) and a second one that is not quite full but is set up to hold a combination of papers you write directly on and some pockets to hold recipe cards. I also have a folder that contains hundreds of recipes that I have clipped from newspapers, magazines and even printed from the internet over the years that I had wanted to try. Once I tried them, I would either transfer them to a recipe card or a cookbook or throw them out if we didn't like them. (This was all before Pinterest of course, now I just Pin them and try them later. My organization there is a whole other issue.)

Having my recipes was great, but with so many places, it could be hard to locate the recipe that I was looking for, although I became an expert on location of some of the most used recipes. In addition, sharing with friends and family required either typing it up to share or writing it out on a note card. Then, a few years ago, I discovered the wonder that is Cook'n Recipe Organizer.

There are a number of features that I love about Cook'n. The first is that I can easily enter my own recipes. Not only can I type them up, if I am able to find a recipe online, I can use the features in Cook'n to capture recipes from the internet. In my experience, most of them over clean but sometimes you have to do a little bit of cleanup to align the ingredient name. One of the improvements that was made in the most recent version is that you can capture from almost any site now...it used to be limited to a handful of sites. I often will do a quick search to see if I can find a similar recipe, as a means of expediting the load of the recipe. There is also functionality that let's you scan or capture a photo of a recipe and import it to your cookbook. You can customize your chapters, to organize in a way that makes sense to you and change them as you go. I started with just a dessert category, but have since split it out to put cookies into their own chapter. I love the flexibility.

The program is able to calculate the nutrition per serving and uses values from the preferred or designated brand for the ingredients. Can't find your favorite? You can add you own ingredients and brands, allowing you to base your calculations on the ingredients and brands that you use. This is a nice feature in my opinion. For my favorites, I have entered the details from the nutrition label on the package and made that brand my preferred brand for the ingredient.

Once you have a recipe saved, it is also easy to scale your recipe. There is functionality to help you with menu planning and will even generate a grocery list. Plan your menu by dragging and dropping the recipes onto the weekly plan. Then, click on the grocery list and it will generate based on the recipes. Clean up the list to remove on hand ingredients and you are ready to go.

With the newest version, you can now Sync your recipes to your mobile devices. I really like this functionality, because now, I can take the iPad to the kitchen and easily access my recipes where I am, without having to print or walk back and forth to my computer while I am baking and cooking. It is also nice because with it on my phone, I can quickly reference a recipe...whether I am at the store and found a great deal and want to update my meal plan or I am talking to a friend and want to share it with them. Speaking of sharing, quick share buttons that allow you to e-mail, post to Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Google+ are available on your recipes. You can also use the embed in website button to get an HTML version complete with formatting for the theme. You can share links to your recipe as well.

There are several available cookbooks that you can buy and download into the software. This is a great way to find new recipes and increase your database. Just the other week, there was an offer from Rhodes bread in the Sunday coupon flyer to download their cookbook to Cook'n. Most of the other cookbooks are available for a nominal cost.

The newest version also features a Live Recipe feed, that provides a picture and link to several recently used recipes. It includes the most captured recipe from the last 24 hours and last 7 days, giving you the perfect opportunity to find some popular recipes. You can even customize the feed to easily follow your favorite sites and see the recently added recipes.

The search functionality in the software allows you to search a particular cookbook or chapter, all of Cook'n or even the internet. Search by key words to find ingredients you have on hand, focus on recipe names only and even search based on ratings. It really has worked well for me when looking for recipes.

I really can't say enough good things about the software. I simply love it.

I think it makes a great gift for family or friends that love to cook. This weekend, Cook'n is offering a great special on the software. You can get it for only $20, the regular retail price is $80...that is 75% off! Here is the link to this amazing offer. After this weekend, you can still save on your purchase, go to http://www.dvo.com/ to place your order and simply use the following code at checkout to save 50%: mb-busymom.

You can learn more about Tryazon by visiting them on Facebook or following them on Twitter or Pinterest.

Giveaway!

In addition, I have the opportunity through my participation the Tryazon party to giveaway one complimentary copy to one A Busy Mom of Two reader.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through December 10th. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

I received a complimentary copy as a participant in the Tryazon Cook'n Recipe Exchange Party back in October. I had previously had an older version. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. The discount code and the giveaway copy are compliments of Cook'n.

Lloyd's Barbeque - Giveaway!

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

A few weeks ago, we took a family vacation to Walt Disney World (I really do mean to share the insights, tips and tricks, but I never seem to have the time). We timed our trip this year to hit the end of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. My son, who as of late seems to be becoming quite a little foodie, wanted to try food at all the stations. We didn't get to all of them, but did hit quite a few of them. One of the first things that we tried was a Pork Slider at the Hawaii station. It was pork, a pineapple chutney, a spicy mayonnaise on a slider roll.

As I was exploring the Lloyd's page on Hormel.com, I found a recipe for a Barbeque Pineapple and Chicken sandwich.

I am certain this dish is not quite the same, I was thinking of starting with this recipe, swapping in Pork for the Chicken, omitting the cheese and adding a spiced up mayo to see how close we could get to the sandwich we all enjoyed at Epcot.

Giveaway!
As a Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger, I have been invited to share with my readers 10 coupons for Lloyd's BBQ. You could try the recipe I mention above or any number of recipes featured on the Lloyd's page or simply enjoy them as sandwiches (also good just served up 'open-face' on crackers).

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Giveaway will remain open through December 5th. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. Coupons are only good until 12/31/14 and will be mailed to the winners. A Busy Mom of Two is not responsible for lost or misdirected mail.


No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product and some of the information and images for this post.

Qrunch Burgers Review and Giveaway!

No compensation was received for this post. The manufacturer provided the coupons for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

A few months ago, on a week where my husband was doing the grocery shopping, he came home with a new product that he had tried and a few coupons from the demo stand. The product was Qrunch burgers. As recently as a year ago, I would have been surprised that he had bought some, but lately he seems to be more open to new foods. We don't have any dietary restrictions or try to eat a certain way, other than just an overall balanced, healthy diet with reasonable portions (at least most of the time).

Qrunch burgers are made with Quinoa and other vegetables/beans depending on the variety. The products are Gluten-free, Soy-free, Wheat-free, Nut-free, Egg-free, Dairy-free, Corn-free, Animal-free, Light Sodium and use Ancient Grains (Quinoa). Looking at a list like that might make you wonder about the flavor, which by the way is great. Not only are they flavorful, they have a nice crunch when prepared too.

The product is so easy to prepare. You can make them in your toaster. Put it through two cycles in your standard toaster and your Qrunch burger is ready to eat. We eat them like a burger, placing them on a bun and topping with tomatoes, lettuce, mustard, ketchup, etc.

There are five varieties of Qrunch burgers - Original, Spicy Italian, Green Chile, Sweet Curry and a new one that I am going to have to find - Saucy Buffalo. We have tried the first four flavors. The family favorite is the Spicy Italian, but my husband also likes the Original and the Green Chile. I am sure that when we find Saucy Buffalo, that will be a favorite too.

At just about 200 calories per Qrunch burger, varies slightly by variety, we find that they fit well in our diet.

Have you tried Qrunch burgers? What did you think?

Giveaway!
Courtesy of Qrunch Foods, I have several $1.00 off coupons that I can giveaway to A Busy Mom of Two readers. The coupons are good through the end of the year.


a Rafflecopter giveaway




Giveaway will remain open through December 1st. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. Coupons are only good until 12/31/14 and will be mailed to the winners. A Busy Mom of Two is not responsible for lost or misdirected mail.
No compensation was received for this post. The manufacturer provided the coupons for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

Cedar Point HalloWeekends - 4 pack of tickets #Giveaway #CedarPoint

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.
Growing up, I have many memories of family trips and Girl Scout trips to Cedar Point. Our trips were typically during the week and were a total blast. Now that I have my own family, we try to make a trip there at least once a season. It has been an interesting progression, as the kids get older, we have started to migrate to some of the big rides, but still spend much of our time in the kids area and riding Gemini.

I have not been to HalloWeekends before, but a fellow blogger shares about HalloWeekends here. Based on her experience, it definitely sounds like the daytime would be full of fun for the whole family.

Don't miss out on HalloWeekends! Cedar Point is open on Friday nights (after 6 p.m.), Saturdays and Sundays now through Nov. 2, 2014. Here is pricing info:

Fri or Sun Night Admission as low as $38.99 plus applicable taxes and fees
Saturday Night Admission as low as $45.99 plus applicable taxes and fees
Sat or Sun All-Day Admission All Day & All Night as low as $47.99 plus applicable taxes and fees

Giveaway!
Win a 4-pack of tickets to experience HalloWeekends with your family. Please note, the tickets are only good for the remaining three HalloWeekends this year. Cedar Point is open on Friday nights (after 6 p.m.), Saturdays and Sundays now through Nov. 2, 2014.

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Giveaway will remain open through October 17th. Tickets are only redeemable this year, for any day during the remaining weekends of HalloWeekends, through November 2nd. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. Cedar Point provided the information as well as the 4-pack of tickets for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

May is National Bike Month #MaxandErmas #giveaway

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.
National Bike Month

May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try.

Given all of the holidays that are out there, it is no surprise to me that May is National Bike Month. Biking is a great activity that is suitable for people of all ages.

I can remember as a kid learning to ride my bike in the church parking lot across the street from my house. It was a great lot with just one pole in the middle of it (guess who hit it! yup, that would be me). When my friends would come over to play, we would use that parking lot and just ride our bikes around in circles, chasing one another and making up games about super heros. I can remember riding my bike over to my best friends house for an afternoon of playing and going for bike rides with my family across town to the local ice cream shop. The town I grew up in had a bike trail that started just outside of the neighborhood that I lived in and crossed town. (not related, but it was that same bike trail that was the top of the "hill" that we used to sled on.)

When I was in college, the guy I was dating and I decided that we would take up biking together. We went out and bought gear and biked. We would bring our bikes when we visited his family and ride on the Tow Path in Northeast Ohio. We even registered for a few bike rides and completed those.

Then, I went a few years without really riding my bike. I would say a lot of it had to do with living in Pittsburgh - have you seen those hills? - and then being pregnant and having infants. We got the kids bikes and taught them to ride.

Then, last year the new Y opened in town. I wound up taking a Spinning class, because the first week of the new year, they had issues with the lights not working in the rooms. The Spinning class didn't require the lights and the equipment is self-propelled, so class went on and since I couldn't do my intended workout, I joined them to give it a try. I was hooked. Then, my husband entered a weight loss challenge with a friend and started going to the Y and riding the bikes as part of his workout. So, when spring rolled around, we decided it might be fun to go on a family bike ride and started to explore the local bike paths. We really enjoyed it, setting our trips to about 20 miles round trip with a stop at the turn around for lunch or dinner. We invited our friends and their parents to join us a few times too. It was a great way to spend time as a family and to spend time visiting with friends. Creating memories for our family, like I had as a kid.

Last week, we had our first peek at warm weather and it was spring break, so we decided to head out and tried out a new to us trail, after buying a new 'grown-up' bike for our son, complete with hand breaks and 21 gears. It was only 14 miles round trip, but with the windy day, it was good that it was not any longer. I can't wait until the warm weather is here to stay and we can do more bike rides.

Max & Erma’s gears up for National Bike Month

Each restaurant to give away a new bike and helmet

Columbus, Ohio—National Bike Month is right around the corner and Max & Erma’s restaurants is inviting kids to join their kid-loving dog and mascot, Scraps, to “Ride with Scraps” and enter to win a new bicycle and helmet. Every kid’s meal ordered at area Max & Erma’s from March 24-April 22 will receive an entry into the drawing to Ride with Scraps. The drawing will be held on Tuesday, April 22 at all participating Max & Erma’s restaurants.

“At Max & Erma’s, we love kids and families,” said Steve Weis, President of Max & Erma’s. “Every Tuesday, kids can eat free from our kids’ menu and now, we are also giving kids the opportunity to win a new bike and helmet, just in time for spring.”

As part of the Ride with Scraps promotion, Max & Erma’s is hosting a used bike drive at its participating locations in April. Visit your local Max & Erma’s for exact bike drive date and details. A coupon redeemable for one of Max & Erma’s famous hamburgers during the month of May (National Hamburger Month) will be given with each bicycle donated. The donated bikes will benefit local children’s charities.

Celebrating its 42-year heritage, Columbus, Ohio based Max & Erma's—home to America's Best Cheeseburger—has embarked on an extensive system-wide program to reignite growth. With innovative new gourmet burgers and other new food and drink items, an all-new look, the launch of Free Cookies Wednesday and Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays, Max & Erma's is an increasingly popular neighborhood gathering spot.

More information is available at http://pressroom.maxandermas.com/, Max & Erma’s Facebook page, and @MaxErmas on Twitter.

National Bike Month is sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to give biking a try.

Giveaway!
Courtesy of Max & Erma's to help celebrate National Bike Month and their giveaway of one new bike and helmet per participating location, I have the opportunity to give away to one A Busy Mom of Two reader, a $25 gift card to Max & Erma's.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


No compensation was received for this post. Max & Erma's provided the information about National Bike Month and their Ride with Scraps bike and helmet giveaway, as well as a gift card for my family and for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents LEGENDS April 25-28, 2014 Covelli Centre #Youngstown

No compensation was received for this post. My family and I have the opportunity to enjoy the show. Feld Entertainment provided the tickets and the information for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents LEGENDS
April 25-28, 2014
Covelli Centre

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents LEGENDS, an all-new edition that unites iconic circus stars with living mythological creatures in a celebration of the LEGENDS that have captured imaginations for centuries. Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson guides Paulo the Legend Seeker on his quest to discover real, living legends from around the world and presents Paulo’s fantastic discoveries to circus fans everywhere.

Mythology meets reality as Paulo encounters the wondrous Pegasus and the amazing Unicorn, as well as circus legends such as big cat presenter Alexander Lacey; the Riders of the Wind Cossack horsemen; and motorcycle daredevils, the Torres Family. They all come together along with a cast spanning 25 countries in a spectacular production.

LEGENDS also boasts the largest display of exotic hair-hanging artists in the entire world, magnificent Asian elephants, a twenty-acrobat troupe perched atop only a pair of bicycles and a never-before-seen double-wide, high-flying trapeze act.

Ticket Prices:
Front Row Ringmaster: $95
VIP: $38 (FRI. 7PM, SAT. 3PM/7PM, SUN. 3PM), $35 (SAT. 11AM, SUN. 11AM/7PM, MON. 7PM)
Price Level 3: $19
Price Level 4: $14
*$2 facility fee not included in above prices

The kids $12 tickets are only available on SATURDAY 11AM, SUNDAY 11AM, SUNDAY 7PM, MONDAY 7PM. not valid on Front Row or VIP seating.

Performance Times:
Friday, April 25- 7PM
Saturday, April 26- 11AM, 3PM, 7PM
Sunday, April 27- 11AM, 3PM, 7PM
Monday, April 28- 7PM

All Access Pre-show:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Legends – an all-new circus spectacle beyond imagination! Arrive an hour early for the All Access Pre-show where you can meet circus legendary performers, amazing animals, try on costumes and learn circus skills – FREE with your ticket! Visit Ringling.com for more information. Playing April 25-28, 2014 Covelli Centre Youngstown.

Ringmaster Zone:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Legends – an all-new circus spectacle beyond imagination is coming to town! We’d like to invite you to an exclusive behind-the-scenes up close and personal experience called the Ringmaster Zone!
Walk the Ringmaster Zone Red Carpet and get a family photo with a legendary performer! Step inside the Globe of Steel! See mini performances and an Asian elephant up close! Learn how the world famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clowns paint their faces and more! Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to be treated like a circus star! The Ringmaster Zone experience can be combined with any seat level purchased. Tickets are limited so get yours today!

One of my favorite animals to see at the circus are the elephants. They are such amazing 'gentle giants'. So, I thought I would share with you some fun facts about the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Asian elephants:

• Elephants drink 100 times more water than humans do. That is like drinking 800 glasses of water a day!
• A full-grown elephant’s tooth weighs about the same as a nine-pound bowling ball!
• When elephants swim, they use their trunks like snorkels!
• Elephants respond to over 60 voice commands.
• Elephants do not have sweat glands. They use their ears to fan themselves and keep cool.
• Each elephant eats 150-200 pounds of hay along with an assortment of local fresh fruits and vegetables, each and every day.
• Elephants have excellent hearing and also use their ears like a fan – flapping them back and forth to cool themselves!
• The Ringling Bros. elephants receive frequent pedicures and brushing and exfoliation scrubs.
• They love to eat whole unsliced loaves of white bread as a treat.
• An elephant doesn’t drink through its trunk. It sucks water into its trunk and blows it back into its mouth to drink.

You can find more fascinating facts here.


You can purchase your tickets here.

Performance Times:
Friday, April 25- 7PM
Saturday, April 26- 11AM, 3PM, 7PM
Sunday, April 27- 11AM, 3PM, 7PM
Monday, April 28- 7PM

Giveaway!

Courtesy of Feld Entertainment, I have the opportunity to give one lucky winner 4 tickets to the Opening Night performance on April 25th at 7PM.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through April 15th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. Tickets are non-transferrable, they will be held at will call under the name provided by the ticket winner only.

No compensation was received for this post. My family and I have the opportunity to enjoy the show. Feld Entertainment provided the tickets and the information for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

National Snack Food Month - #Giveaway

No compensation was received for this post. As a Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger, product samples, coupons and information were provided. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.
February was National Snack Food Month! At our house, snacking is a way of life. It has to be. With school, after school activities and sports in the evenings, there is not a consistent time that dinner is at our house. To help us through, we have the kids (and ourselves) take a snack break between activities. If dinner will be a more typical time, they will have just a small snack to tide them over, but if dinner will be after evening sports, then we typically rely on a more filling snack - something with protein.

"According to a Hormel Study (conducted by Penn Schoen Berland), 90% of teens eat at least one snack a day - and no wonder, since snacking is a great way to increase energy and help curb hunger until the next meal."

Looking for some ideas for a snacker in your life? Here are some ideas from Hormel

"Hormel REV Wraps - These pre-made wraps make the perfect after school snack to fuel an active lifestyle. Each wrap contains 15 grams of protein, and with eight varieties of varying assortments of meats and cheeses, they're the perfect way to satisfy afternoon cravings!

Hormel Pepperoni Stix - Packed with protein, pop one of these individually wrapped stix in your bag for an on-the-go snack to tide you over until the next meal. Available in original and turkey pepperoni.

Chi-Chi's Snackers - These portable salsa snack cups paired with veggies or chips for dipping make for a great snack option - enough to satisfy, but not so substantial that it will ruin your appetite."

I haven't tried the Pepperoni Stix, but I imagine that we would like them - slices of pepperoni are sometimes part of our snacks. I can also tell you that my the kids love the Hormel REV Wraps. We actually use them for lunches, as well as snacking at our house. They prefer them microwaved, but will eat them direct from the package too.

Would you like to try Hormel REV Wraps for yourself?

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hormel, two lucky readers will each win 2 (two) coupons each good for one FREE Hormel REV Wrap.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through March 10th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. As a Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger, product samples, coupons and information were provided. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries coming to Akron Civic #giveaway

No compensation was received for this post.

I grew up watching Scooby-Doo and have shared Scooby-Doo with my kids. When I heard that Scooby-Doo Live! was coming to Akron, I was very excited, because I knew it was a show that the whole family would enjoy.

Tickets for this show would make a great Christmas present. I love to take the kids to live theater and when they are already familiar with the characters, it makes it that much more enjoyable for everyone. Plus, we have a history of giving each other tickets to live shows and sporting events for Christmas. We have frequently made 'vouchers' for those events where the tickets haven't yet gone on sale or we didn't receive paper tickets.

Scooby Doo: Musical Mysteries
Akron Civic Theatre
April 5, 2014
2 Thrilling shows at 2pm and 5pm.

Jeepers! SCOOBY-DOO and the Mystery Inc. Gang have been called in to help
solve an epic mystery in Akron. A trouble-making ghost is haunting a
local theater and SHAGGY, FRED, DAPHNE, VELMA and SCOOBY-DOO are
on their way in the MYSTERY MACHINE to help solve it! This hilarious live
theater show brings everyone's favorite animated series to life. Filled with wacky
new characters, fantastic songs and outrageous antics, SCOOBY-DOO LIVE!
MUSICAL MYSTERIES, presented by Warner Bros. and Life Like Touring, will
have audiences on the edge of their seats in traditional Scooby-Doo fashion.
See if this time the gang is in over its head!

Click here to buy tickets to the 2PM show

Click here to buy tickets to the 5PM show

Giveaway!
I am excited to be able to share with my readers an opportunity to win a family 4-pk of tickets to see Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries at Akron Civic to the 5 pm show on Saturday, April 5th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Giveaway will remain open through February 20th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. I received a complimentary set of tickets to attend the show from the Akron Civic and they provided information and the tickets for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Monster Jam - coming to Quicken Loans Arena!

Monster Jam
Quicken Loans Arena
Feb 14 - 16 , 2014

Friday, Feb 14 - 7:30 PM
Saturday, Feb 15 - 2:00 PM
Saturday, Feb 15 - 7:30 PM
Sunday, Feb 16 - 2:00 PM

Monster Jam is the most exciting form of family motorsports entertainment on the planet. The stars of the show are the biggest performers on four wheels: the Monster Jam trucks! The twelve-feet-tall, ten-thousand-pound machines will bring you to your feet, racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over - OR smash through. The 2014 touring season brings more Monster Jam excitement providing entertainment tailored perfectly for your family's budget, and these colorful, larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and old. In 2014, Monster Jam will receive 26 hours of original programming on FOX Sports 1 followed by a minimum of two re-airings on FOX Sports 2.

Monster Jam Military Appreciation Night – Friday, February 14th, 7:00 p.m.

Feld Motor Sports and Monster Jam are proud to dedicate their opening night performance in Cleveland to those who have served, or are still serving in the United States Armed Forces. Throughout Military Appreciation Night, Monster Jam will salute the men and women of the military for their dedication and the sacrifices they have made to serve our country.

Additionally, active duty and veteran military members can receive one FREE ticket to Opening Night. Tickets can be picked up at the Quicken Loans Arena box office with a valid military ID, between Monday, January 27th through Friday, January 31st.

Ticket Pricing:

Opening Night tickets $12.
Kids Tickets $12.
Pit Passes $10.
All tickets $3 more day of show, so buy your tickets early!

Party in the Pits

A sold-out event year after year, Monster Jam’s Party in the Pits runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 15th and Sunday February 16th, prior to the 2:00 p.m. show. The pre-show pit party gives fans (with a pit pass and show ticket) the chance to see these larger-than-life monster trucks up close, meet the drivers behind the wheel, take pictures and get autographs! Pit passes will be available for $10 online at theQarena.com after tickets have been purchased and at the Quicken Loans Arena box office, while supplies last.

Ticket Discount!
You can get 25% off your tickets when you enter Promo Code MOM25 at check-out. Offer not valid on Opening Night. Not valid on Gold Circle or VIP seating. No double Discounts. You can buy your tickets here.

Like Monster Jam and Quicken Loans Arena on Facebook and be sure to share with friends!

Follow Monster Jam on Twitter.

Be sure to use one of the following hash tags if you share on Facebook or Twitter: #MJinCLE, #HappyinCLE, #MonsterJamCLE, #MilitaryAppreciationNight

Giveaway!
Thanks to Feld Family Entertainment I am able to offer a giveaway for a family 4-pack of tickets to one A Busy Mom of Two reader.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


No compensation was received for this post. My family and I have the opportunity to enjoy the show. Feld Entertainment provided the tickets and the information for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

America's Got Talent Live is coming to Cleveland!

No compensation was received for this post. Information about the show and tickets for the giveaway were provided. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

America's Got Talent Live

Don’t miss your chance to be dazzled live and in-person by the amazing and electrifying stars of NBC’s #1-rated hit TV show. For eight years running, “America’s Got Talent®” has entertained viewers with its own unique blend of incredible talent and one-of-a-kind performances, in a celebration of the American spirit. With a lineup led by the show’s brand-new Million Dollar Winner, the “America’s Got Talent Live™” stage show features many of the performers and fan favorites who won America’s hearts and received millions of votes from viewers across the country. Be there to experience all the energy and excitement of the blockbuster TV show.

Official Tour Lineup: Kenichi Ebina, The KriStef Brothers, Collins Key, Cami Bradley, Jimmy Rose, Taylor Williamson and Tone The Chiefrocca

America's Got Talent Live
November 6, 7:30 pm
PlayhouseSquare
State Theatre
1519 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44115

Giveaway!
Win Tickets for America’s Got Talent Live - You could win 4 Tickets for America’s Got Talent Live!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through October 31st. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. Information about the show and tickets for the giveaway were provided. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

60's Rock -N- Remember coming to Akron Civic Theatre #giveaway

No compensation was received for this post. I received a complimentary set of tickets to attend the show from the Akron Civic and they provided information and the tickets for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Growing up, as I am sure most kids did, I listened to a lot of my parent's music. So, when I heard that the show 60's Rock-N-Remember was coming to the Akron Civic Theatre, I got a little bit excited. The show includes Herman's Hermit's starring Peter Noone, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and Dennis Tufano of the Buckinghams. As I read through some of the songs listed in the show blurb, I find myself singing the songs in my head. I know so many of the songs and am certain that I will have to stop myself from singing along with all of them. (I know the songs, but I certainly can not sing!)

60's Rock -N- Remember featuring Herman's Hermit's starring Peter Noone, Gary Puckett and The Union Gap and Dennis Tufano, original voice of The Buckinghams.
Sunday, October 27, 2013 4:00 PM
Akron Civic Theatre

Peter Noone is a multi-talented entertainer, who has been delighting audiences nearly all his life.

At the age of fifteen, Peter achieved international fame as “Herman”, lead singer of the legendary Sixties pop band Herman’s Hermits. His classic hits included: “I’m Into Something Good” “Mrs. Brown, you’ve Got A Lovely Daughter”, “I’m Henry VIII, I Am”, “Silhouettes”, “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat”, “Just A Little Bit Better”, “Wonderful World”, “There’s A Kind of Hush”, “A Must To Avoid”, “Listen People”, “The End of the World” and “Dandy”. Ultimately, Herman’s Hermits sold over sixty million recordings. In all, fourteen singles and seven albums went gold. The Hermits were twice named Cashbox’s “Entertainer of the Year”.

Gary Puckett & The Union Gap was an American pop rock group operating in the late 1960s. Their biggest hits were "Woman, Woman," "Young Girl," and "Lady Willpower."
GARY PUCKETT and the UNION GAP was one of the most successful musical groups of the sixties. Gary's unmistakable signature voice garnered six consecutive gold records and top ten Billboard hits:
"YOUNG GIRL"
"WOMAN WOMAN"
"LADY WILLPOWER"
"OVER YOU"
"THIS GIRL IS A WOMAN NOW"

Dennis Tufano is the original lead singer of the 1960s rock group The Buckinghams, and has been a solo performer since the early 1980s.

Giveaway!
Courtesy of Akron Civic Theatre, I am able to give away to one A Busy Mom of Two reader a 4-pk of tickets to 60's Rock-N-Remember.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway will remain open through October 20th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. I received a complimentary set of tickets to attend the show from the Akron Civic and they provided information and the tickets for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents Built to Amaze!, coming to Cleveland, #giveaway

No compensation was received for this post. My family and I have the opportunity to enjoy the show. Feld Entertainment provided the tickets and the information for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Show Description:

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey ® Presents Built To Amaze! ℠ , the 143rd edition of the Greatest Show On Earth. Surprise and wonder delights audiences with over the top feats of strength, agility and courage. As the momentum builds so does the anticipation, anything can happen when Ringling Bros. Presents Built To Amaze!

Circus performers from across the globe create the perfect blend of athleticism and bravery, where power meets fearlessness and amazement has no bounds. Magnificent elephants, ferocious tigers, astonishing acrobats and awe-inspiring aerialists are engineered into one spectacular performance.

Celebrate the tradition TODAY and experience its modern flare of twists and turns where excitement and suspense are so intense you’ll be tempted to cover your eyes.

From the blueprints to the band, the crates to the clowns, the hammer to the high wire, witness the spectacle as we measure out the perfect mix of marvel and majesty in an imagination equation where the impossible comes to life. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey ® Presents Built To Amaze!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey ® Presents Built To Amaze!
Quicken Loans Arena
Performance Times:
Wednesday, October 23: 7PM
Thursday, October 24: 7PM
Friday, October 25: 7PM
Saturday, October 26: 11AM, 3PM, 7PM
Sunday, October 27: 11AM, 3PM, 7PM

Ticket Prices:
Circus Celebrity - $85
Front Row -$68 Weekend/$60 Weekday
VIP - $43 Weekend/$40 Weekday
$23
$17
*prices do not include $3 Facility Fee

Exclusive Savings:
Discount offer: Save $5 to select performances!
Promo Code: MOM5
Disclaimers: Valid on ALL performances EXCEPT Wednesday & Thursday.Discounts not valid on Circus Celebrity, Front Row or VIP tickets. No double discounts. Discounts expire on Sunday, October 27, 2013. Get tickets at theqarena.com, the Quicken Loans Arena Box Office or by phone at 888.894.9424.

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through October 4th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. My family and I have the opportunity to enjoy the show. Feld Entertainment provided the tickets and the information for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Disney Junior Live! Pirate & Princess Adventure, coming to Youngstown, #giveaway

No compensation was received for this post. My family and I have the opportunity to enjoy the show. Feld Entertainment provided the tickets and the information for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.
I will probably never forget the day that we went to Target (we are there almost daily it seems) to pick up a few things that we needed and were looking in the toy section for my daughter, who had a few dollars to spend. As we walked up and down the aisles, we came across the row with the Disney plush toys. She looked and almost immediately saw a large stuffed Jake that she just had to have. I questioned it, not only because I had never seen her watch the show or talk about Jake before but also as I do most requests for stuffed toys, because they quickly fall out of favor and she is always wanting a new one.

I told her it wasn't on sale and I didn't realize she was a fan, so I said that we had to wait to get it. That way, she could think about it and make sure that was how she wanted to spend her money. I explained, that if it went on sale and she still wanted it, then maybe we could come back and get it. She immediately started to melt down. I don't think that I had ever seen her throw a fit quite like this. So, I calmly (as best I could stay calm), picked her up and carried her out of the store, leaving behind the cart of items that I had come to pick up. I don't know that anyone I know was there as I walked out carrying my very upset and loud daughter, as I was not about to make eye contact with anyone.

We talked about it later and she understood that was not the way to act and that sometimes, we have to wait and get things right away when we think that we want them. I explained again that I had never seen her even watch the show or talk about Jake. She told me that they watched it at daycare and she was a fan. So, as things have a way of working out, we set up Jake to record and she now watches it regularly. We did eventually, a few months later, buy that large stuffed Jake, when he was on sale...but only after we reviewed the experience of the first time she asked for Jake and what was wrong with her approach. She regularly watches his show with him and frequently he is the stuffed toy of choice at bedtime. So, in the end, it worked out that she has stuck with him and not lost interest.

She also is a fan of Sofia the First and anxiously awaits the release of each new episode, so when I learned that Disney Junior Live! Pirate & Princess Adventure was coming to Youngstown, I knew that she would be very excited to go and see two of her favorite Disney Junior characters live.

Show Description:

Grab your tiaras and doubloons and join us for Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure. Mickey and Minnie are taking their seats too at this never-before-seen live show featuring your favorite characters from Disney Junior's hit series, Sofia the First and Jake and the Never Land Pirates. Get swept up in the excitement as Sofia and her family prepare for a royal celebration that helps us all learn the true meaning of being a princess with a special appearance from Cinderella. Then it's off to Never Land where Jake and his swashbuckling friends Izzy and Cubby, with a little help from Peter Pan, battle Captain Hook to unlock treasure hidden inside a mysterious volcano. It's danger and dueling on the high seas as Jake discovers what it takes to be a true hero. Filled with new music, amazing effects, thrilling action and endless surprises, your whole family will sing, shout, and soar into the action when Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure sails into your hometown.


Special bonus! Starting ten minutes before every performance join loveable Doc McStuffins for a special pre-show! You can help Doc take care of one of her beloved toys with her own special brand of love and magic. Free to all ticket holders.

Disney Junior Live! Pirate & Princess Adventure
Covelli Centre
October 26, 2013
1 pm and 4 pm

Exclusive Savings:
Disount offer: Save $5 on all performances!
Promo Code: MOM5
Disclaimers No double discounts. Not valid on VIP or VIP floor seats. Valid on both performances. Get your tickets at ticketmaster.com, the Covelli Centre Box Office or by phone at 800.745.3000.


Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through October 4th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. My family and I have the opportunity to enjoy the show. Feld Entertainment provided the tickets and the information for this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Del Monte FruitBurst review and #giveaway

No compensation was received for this post. DelMonte provided information for the post, a gift pack for my family and one for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

We recently had the chance to try a new product from Del Monte® - new Fruit Burst™ Squeezers. We tried Simply Fruit - Strawberry and Fruit + Veggie - Peach-Mango. As a mom, I really like the convenience of getting 1 1/2 servings of fruit or fruit and veggies in an easy to eat pouch. When we are enjoying them at home, we typically will have them right from the fridge, but when we are on the go, I like knowing that they are portable, easy to consume (no utensils required) and don't require refrigeration (unless you don't eat it all at once, then you should refrigerate the remaining product). I like that all of the sweetness in the product comes from fruit puree and juice concentrates. For me, the strangest part was the texture - it is a very smooth puree, but it has a great flavor. The kids consider them to be a treat (as a mom, I love when fruits and vegetables are a treat) and are excited when they are included in their lunch or as a snack. I have already been asked to buy more for them to have as snacks and in their lunches.

About Fruit Burst™ Squeezers

Made in the U.S.A., Del Monte Fruit Burst™ Squeezers contain 1 ½ servings of fruit or fruit and veggies and are an excellent source of vitamins A and C. In addition, Del Monte Fruit Burst™ Squeezers contain no artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup.

Fruit + Veggie Varieties:

- Peach-Mango: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, peach puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, carrot juice concentrate, carrot puree, mango puree concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

- Blueberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, carrot puree, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

Simply Fruit Varieties:

- Apple Cinnamon: Pear puree concentrate, water, apple puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), cinnamon, malic acid.

- Mixed Berry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, strawberry puree, red raspberry puree concentrate, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

- Strawberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, strawberry puree concentrate, natural flavors, carmine, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

Also to kick off the school year, Del Monte launched the “First Day of School Photo Contest” through Facebook (facebook.com/delmonte)! The contest is closed now, but everyone was invited to upload an original photo of your child on their first day of school or yourself on your own first day of school. The top 20 Finalist photos were posted to the Del Monte Fruit Squeezers website, and fans had the chance to vote for their favorite photo. The winning entry will receive a $10,000 donation to a school of their choice!



Giveaway!
Courtesy of DelMonte, I have the opportunity to share with one A Busy Mom of Two reader a gift pack like I received.

The Gift Pack will contain:
* Two boxes of Fruit Burst Squeezers™ (one Fruit + Veggies 4-pack and one Simply Fruit 4-pack)
* One Del Monte lunchbox
* One orange-shaped eco-friendly shopping tote
* One strawberry-shaped eco-friendly shopping tote
* One Del Monte magnetic frame

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through October 1st. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. DelMonte provided information for the post, a gift pack for my family and one for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.